Uganda’s junior minister for tourism this month sparked controversy by suggesting that curvy women could be promoted as a tourist attraction. Uganda earns billions of dollars off of wildlife tourism but, the idea of adding women to that list has generated heated debate about objectifying women.

Ann Mungoma was a judge at two pageants and this that being slim has not be equated with beauty — Ms. Curvy Africa 2016 and Ms. Curvy Nigeria 2017.

“So, here we are giving a chance to the ladies and telling them, please, you’re most welcome,” she said. “God created you that way, bless him for the way you are shaped, your size, come, we are giving you a platform to show the world that this is how we are. This is how Ugandan ladies are designed.”

Mungoma’s plan of bringing the contest to Uganda this year has — well — hit a curve.

However, Godfrey Kiwanda, who is Uganda’s junior minister for tourism, started a debate at the pageant’s launch. According to him curvy women should be counted among the country’s tourist attractions — such as wildlife.

Kiwanda said Uganda’s tourism industry is currently facing stiff competition and should be diversify.

“Tourism is not just about animals, it’s about our food, the way we walk, the way we were created, our curves,” he said.

According to the Uganda’s women’s rights activists, Kiwanda’s objectifying women’s bodies is a gross insult. Also, some people called for the Ms. Curvy Uganda beauty pageant to be canceled.

Rita Aciro, who is an executive director of the Uganda Women’s Network, has been fighting for women and girl’s rights for the last 18 years. She even demanded the junior tourism minister to apologize.

“He should stop using women’s bodies as sex objects. We are not. Not Ugandan women, not any African woman, not any woman in the world,” she said. “Our bodies are not sex objects. We have equal brains, we have equal abilities, we just need equal opportunities.”

Although, Ugandans had mixed views on the controversy. Some of them insulted women who took part while others defended them.

As per University student Georgia Nakyonza, she would join the contest if she qualified.

“It’s not bad, it doesn’t mean that if you go for Miss curvy you are a protest, you are selling off your body. Actually, the way they put on is just the way models put on,” she said.

Moreover, the Uganda’s Tourism Board has distanced itself from the Ms. Curvy pageant, said it will rather concentrate on promoting the country’s current attractions.